Chapter 130: Tinan Jade

Tianyu Trading Company was as bustling as ever, with crowds surging everywhere. Zhang Xuan walked in slowly, his hands clasped behind his back.

After walking for a while, Sun Qiang pointed ahead. "Master," he said, "Elder Ling's office is just up there."

Zhang Xuan looked up and saw a sumptuously decorated hall before him. In front of the entrance stood two tall, majestic green jade lions, exuding an aura of profound dignity. Their eyes, especially, were dark and vibrant, as if alive, causing anyone who looked upon them to feel a deep sense of awe.

"I heard these two stone lions were specially commissioned by Elder Ling and crafted by six master artisans," Sun Qiang said, his eyes glowing with fervor. "The raw material is Tinan Green Jade, the finest green jade in Tianxuan Kingdom! With the six artisans' carving skills, a single one is worth millions of gold coins."

Many wealthy individuals display valuable items in front of their properties to showcase their financial power and status, and also with the intention of attracting wealth and treasure. It seemed Elder Ling Tianyu was no exception to this custom.

"Millions?" Zhang Xuan secretly clicked his tongue. He had previously thought a million gold coins was a considerable sum, enough to make him a local magnate. Only now, hearing this, did he realize that compared to the truly wealthy, his money was no different from a beggar's.

"Master, should I go find Elder Ling and inform him of your arrival, so he can come out to welcome you?" Sun Qiang asked, looking at him. In Sun Qiang's eyes, although Elder Ling Tianyu possessed wealth rivaling a nation, his true standing was vastly inferior to that of a Master Teacher. A Master Teacher was a formidable figure whom even Emperor Shen Zhui dared not offend, whereas Ling Tianyu, no matter his riches, was merely a merchant.

"No need!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "I'll just look around." He slowly approached the two tall stone lions and reached out to touch them.

The stone felt cool and smooth to the touch, providing an incredibly pleasant sensation; it was clear at first glance that it was the finest green jade. After a brief touch, Zhang Xuan withdrew his hand. He looked around, touching various objects, and after quite some time, he slowly walked back, his hands clasped behind his back.

Watching his master gaze around, seemingly looking at everything like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, Sun Qiang was filled with confusion.

"Let's go sit over there!" Zhang Xuan said, ignoring Sun Qiang's curious gaze and smiling faintly. Tianyu Mall had several resting areas, and one was not far from their current location. Zhang Xuan sat down and ordered a pot of tea.

Sun Qiang stood to the side, utterly baffled. His master had said he wanted to see Elder Ling, but upon arriving, he neither entered nor allowed Sun Qiang to announce their presence. Instead, he just sat there drinking tea. What was he planning?

"Are you wondering why I'm not going into the room to find that Elder Ling you mentioned?" Zhang Xuan asked, seeing through his thoughts and smiling faintly.

"Your subordinate dares not speculate on Master's thoughts!" Sun Qiang replied, though his mind was full of such questions, he dared not voice them.

"No need to be nervous, just speak freely!" Zhang Xuan said, knowing that Sun Qiang was constrained by the presence of a Master Teacher and dared not speak carelessly.

"I... I just find it strange..." Sun Qiang began, unable to hold back. "Master, you are a Master Teacher. If you wished to see Elder Ling, he surely wouldn't refuse..."

"If I reveal my identity, he certainly wouldn't refuse, nor would he dare to," Zhang Xuan said, looking at him. "But do you believe me... I can make him come out to see me even without revealing who I am?" It would be a joke, he thought, for a Master Teacher to proactively reveal his identity to meet a mere merchant; that would be too demeaning. Only by making the other party eagerly seek him out, and confirm his identity through their own deductions, could it achieve the desired shocking effect.

"Without revealing your identity?" Sun Qiang asked, full of disbelief. "That's impossible, isn't it? Although Elder Ling is merely a merchant, to be able to establish such a large trading company here, he must have considerable backing. Some princes and high officials might not even get an audience with him when they wish. Without stating your identity, how could he possibly come out?"

For Ling Tianyu to operate such a vast trading company in the capital, where every inch of land was precious, he must undoubtedly have strong backing from the royal family. Such a person, even if merely a merchant, should not be underestimated. If his Master Teacher identity were revealed, Elder Ling would certainly rush over, but without that... how could he possibly come out? If the dignified Elder Ling were so idle, he likely wouldn't have expanded his business to this scale. Although Sun Qiang himself had once run a shop in a mall, he knew that with his own connections, he could never make Elder Ling even spare him a glance.

"Heh heh!" Zhang Xuan chuckled softly, picking up his teacup with elegant grace. "If you don't believe me, then today I will make him come over obediently. However, before that, you must do whatever I instruct you to, without the slightest disobedience!"

"Yes!" Sun Qiang replied. Although filled with doubt, seeing his master's unwavering confidence, he couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Very well. Go knock off the head of the stone lion on the left," Zhang Xuan instructed.

"What?" Sun Qiang stumbled backward, nearly fainting. He had expected his master to devise some extraordinary method, but this... this was it?

A stone lion worth millions, which Elder Ling clearly treasured, and if he were to actually go and smash its head off, he figured his own head would soon be 'moving out'!

"Master, I don't want to die yet..." Sun Qiang was almost in tears.

"With me here, dying isn't that easy; don't worry!" Zhang Xuan said, waving his hand.

"..." Sun Qiang's lips twitched. He mused that dying might indeed not be easy, especially since Zhang Xuan would then have to pay compensation; how could he be directly killed? But even if not killed, wouldn't he at least be crippled?

"What? Do you dare to disobey Master's words?" Zhang Xuan asked, his brow furrowing to reveal a profound aura of authority. Having been accustomed to teaching for so long, and with his current gaunt appearance, he truly exuded a commanding presence.

"I..." "Don't worry," Zhang Xuan interrupted. "Go smash this lion, and when we return, I will guide you to break through to the Fighter Triple Realm. With me here, there will be no problems. That Elder Ling Tianyu you mentioned will not only refrain from troubling you, but will even be grateful and proactively offer you valuable items." Knowing the formidable reputation of Elder Ling, Zhang Xuan understood that asking Sun Qiang to do such a thing was indeed a tall order, so he waved his hand and offered a tempting reward first.

"Uh... alright!" Sun Qiang mumbled. Hearing the promise and remembering that the other party was a Master Teacher, he reasoned that even if Elder Ling were powerful, he wouldn't dare to be overly presumptuous. Sun Qiang hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth. He had been stuck at the Fighter Triple Realm for far too long, having tried numerous methods and believing he would never advance further in this life. Given such an opportunity, he was willing to do anything. It was precisely for this reason that he had agreed without much hesitation when Zhang Xuan invited him to be his steward.

With a desperate resolve, Sun Qiang turned and walked a few steps to the left stone lion. True qi surged within him, raising his entire aura. Although he appeared rather corpulent and unremarkable, his strength was considerable. His fist whistled through the air, carrying immense power, and struck straight down!

Although a practitioner at the True Qi Realm was not considered an exceptionally powerful expert, one at its peak could wield 450 kilograms of force. This green jade lion, despite its hard texture, was as fragile as glass. As Sun Qiang's fist descended, a crisp sound rang out. *Crack!* The head of the million-gold stone lion detached and shattered into dust on the ground.